This notice provides details about how we may use and/or re-use your personal data to identify benefits and in-kind support you might be entitled to, so that we can make you aware of what support is available.
Identity and contact details of the controller and the data protection officer
Falkirk Council is the data controller. You can contact the data protection officer at:
Frequently asked questions
Why do we collect this information?
The information is being collected for the following purposes:
- To make sure you know what benefits and in-kind support you are entitled to.
- To help you claim that support and maximise your income.
- To enable us to monitor, assess and understand how successful we are in achieving those objectives.
The legal basis for each purpose is set out below:
| Legal basis |
Purpose |
| Performance of a contract |
|
| Legal obligation |
|
| Vital interests |
|
| Task carried out in the public interest |
1, 2, 3 |
| Legitimate interests |
|
What information do we collect about you?
We collect and process a range of personal information about you to assess your entitlement to Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit, Discretionary Housing Payments, Free School Meals and Clothing Grants, Education Maintenance Allowance, Scottish Welfare Fund and Household Support Fund (this list is non exhaustive). This may include:
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your National Insurance Number
- Your marital status
- Your partner's name
- Their date of birth
- Their National Insurance Number
- Details of other people in the household (ie children or other adults who live with you including their dates of birth, National Insurance number, income and circumstances)
- Your address
- Contact telephone, email
- Bank details
- Information about your income, capital (savings, investments and property) and expenditure
More detailed information is included within the relevant privacy notices.
This privacy notice concerns the re-use of that information to identify your potential entitlement to other benefits and in-kind support, and to help you claim those to maximise your income.
Where do we collect information from?
We collect information directly from you through forms and other contact with you. Where necessary, we request follow up information from you directly. Information about you is also shared with us directly by the Department for Work and Pensions, Her Majesty's Revenues & Customs and Social Security Scotland.
More detailed information is included within the relevant privacy notices.
Who might we share your information with?
We may share your information with other teams within the Council to ensure that you are given the best opportunity to maximise your entitlement to benefits and in-kind support. This will be proportionate to what is needed to allow those teams to support you.
Will we send your information outwith the UK?
We do not transfer your information outwith the UK.
How long do we keep hold of your information?
Data re-used in this way will only be kept for as long as necessary to offer you support to maximise your income and to allow us to evaluate how successful we have been in achieving that objective.
What are my rights in relation to the information held about me?
You have the following rights:
- To see any information held about you by making a subject access request.
- To withdraw consent at any time, where the legal basis for processing is consent.
- To data portability, where the legal basis for processing is (i) consent or (ii) performance of a contract.
- To request rectification or erasure of your information, where data protection legislation allows this.
Do I have a right to complain about the way information has been used?
If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, please let us know and we will try to resolve this. If you are still concerned, you can contact the Information Commissioner:
Do I have to provide my personal data to you?
This privacy notice concerns the re-use of data you have already provided us with to allow us to assess your entitlement to benefits we administer. You do not have to provide this information to us in the first instance, but if you do not then we will be unable to assess your entitlement to those benefits. If you do not want us to re-use your data in this way, please let us know by contacting revenues1@falkirk.gov.uk.
Do you use any automated processes to make decisions about me?
We do not use automated decision making processes.